A 3-day backpacking trip. I wanted a short backpacking trip where I wouldn't need snow gear and where I could do a couple of easy peaks; so I picked up a last minute permit to enter at Whitney Portal and go over Trail Crest. Day 1: Backpacked from Whitney Portal to above Guitar Lake (10.5 miles with 5400' gain/1900' loss). Day 2: Day hiked from camp to Mount Hale and Mount Young - a short and easy day (6.5 miles with 3000' gain/3000' loss) Day 3: Backpacked back out to Whitney Portal with a side trip to Mount Whitney along the way. (14.5 miles 3100' gain/6700' loss). Total trip: 31.5 miles with 11,600' gain/11,600' loss. It's finally summertime in the Southern Sierra - the pack only weighed 34 pounds at the start of the trip. I learned how much easier Mount Whitney is for me after spending a couple of days and nights between 8400' and 13,600'. I felt like I always do at elevation going over Trail Crest on the first day - short of breath and having to stop all the time to bring my heart rate down, but on the way back over Trail Crest I felt great and decided to add the hike to Mount Whitney to the day. Finally, up to over 14,000' at a nice steady pace without gasping for air.